Brand was a graduate of the City College of New York, where he majored in management, and received a Bachelors of Business Administration. He served in the United States Army, and, after the 9/11 attacks, he and Pat served as volunteers for the Salvation Army at Ground Zero. He proudly marched in the Veterans Day parade on Fifth Avenue as a member of the Ground Zero Flag Foundation, carrying a flag that flew over the World Trade Center.
Brand was a Renaissance man who enjoyed painting, reading, photography and mineralogy. He was a member of the Nassau Camera club and received several photo awards for his work. He also was the past president of the Queens Mineral Society, and was still an active member of the New York Mineralogical Club based at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. As an amateur geologist, he enjoyed trips in the field to collect Herkimer diamonds and fossils in the Catskills. He also wrote articles about minerals - one is on file at the Smithsonian.
Brand also enjoyed history and reading about Gettysburg. When he moved to East Rockaway, he was taken with its nautical history. He was seen several times a week walking on the Long Beach boardwalk listening to his beloved classical music or some James Taylor song on his headset. He was a practitioner of meditation and read books about religions of the world. He also enjoyed writing Haiku poetry. He was fond of animals especially his own two cats - Fuzzbucket and Toni Soprano!
Brand was the beloved husband of Patricia April Brand, dear father of Jennifer Kobetitsch and James, and the loving grandfather of Jonathan, Johann, Patrick, and a soon- to-arrive granddaughter.
Visitation was held at Donza Funeral Home and a funeral mass took place at St Raymond's R.C. Church. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends.
